Machine for washing, filling, and corking bottles.



PATENTEE SEPT. 29. 190s. E. L. SEELY.

MACHINE EOE WASHING, PILL-ING, AND GOEKING BOTTLES.

APPLIUATION'FILBD JULY 12, 1902.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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PATENTBD SEPT. 29, 1903.

f. L. SEELY. i MACHINE PGR WASHING, FILLING, AND-COMING BDTTLES.

v APPLICATION FILED JULY l2, 1902.

NO MUDEL. I

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, 732/6 allee No. 740,320. f TATLNTLD SEPT'. 294, 190s.

I1. L.v SLBLY. MACHINE TOL IIVIISHING, FILLING, ANL GORKING BOTTLES.

- APPLICATIGN FILED JULY 12, 1902.

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PATENTED-SEPT. 29, 1903.

l I. L. SEELY. l MACHINE POR WASHING, FILLING, AND CORKING BOTTLES.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 12, 1902.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N0 MODEL.

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010.740,320. PATBNTBD SEPT. 20,1900. P. L. SEELY,

, MACHINE FOR WASHING, FILLING; AND CURKING BOTTLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1009.V

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UNiTnD STATES' Patented september a9, 19031 PATENT OFFICE.

FRED L. SEELY, OFIST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. i

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NA'o. 740,320, datedSeptember 29, 1903.

` Application led July 12, 1902i Serial No. 115,352. (No model.)

i for automatically turning the bottles to their upright positions afterbeing washed. l

A further object of the invention is to provide'a novel construction ofbottle-feeding mechanism and means for actuating the same and a novelconstruction of bottle guideframe for supporting the bottles between thedifferent operating mechanisms of the apparatus and for automaticallyreversing the` positions of the bottle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appearand the novel features thereof will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specication, Figures l and l takentogether represent an elevation illustrative of my invention. Fig. 2 isa vertical section on the line 2 2 Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 8Fig. et is a section on the line4 1t Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a section on theline G 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is adetail longitudinal section through the feed end of the machine. Fig. 8is a detail View showinga modied construction of the bottle guide-frame.Fig. 9 is a sectional side elevation of a modified form ofbottle-reversing mechanism. Fig'. 10 is a sectional plan view of thesame. Fig. 11 is of Fig. la. of Fig. 1.

ka vertical section showing the bottle holder and adjuster and theactuating means therefor, and Fig. 12 is a detail view of the holder andadjuster. .Y

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views. I

The frame of the machine includes the backboard 1, preferably coveredwith galvanized iron or other sheet metal, and the sup,

ports 2 2, to which said backboard is secured.

of .which the fol- At the rear of the backboard l and extendinglongitudinally of the machine is a rotary driving-shaft 3, driven fromany suitable source of power and in anysuitable manner. Secured to thebackboard 1, and extending outwardly therefrom are a plurality of brachets 4t, which support the rods 5 and 6, constituting a guide-frame forthe bottles. The rods 5 5 are parallel to each other, and the rods 6 6are also parallel to each other; but the rods 5 and 6 are inclined withrespect to each other, so that the frame as a whole is twisted.` Betweenthe rods 6 6 lit the necks vof the bottles, and between the rods 5 5 tthe bodies of the bottles, The said rods (i 6 are near enough to eachother to engage the beads on the upper ends of the bottle-necks and whenthe bottles are in their upright positions prevent thedisconnection ofthe samefrom the guide-frarne. When the bottles are not provided withbeads on their necks, which may be engaged by the rods 6 6,asupplemental rod 7 for the support of the `bottles from the bottomsthereof may be employed. At one end of the guide-frame referred toV is abox or cas' ing 8, having an opening 9 in theupper side thereof for thepassage of the bottles from the chute 10. 'Extending into the box orcasing 8V from one side thereof isa bar 11, movable in a guide 12 andreciprocated bya cam 13, carried by the shaft-3. The said cam and thesaid bar constitute the feeding mechanism for the bottles in theirpassage through vthe machine. The chute 10 is inclined, as shown, and ismade up'of aplurality of bars 14, secured at their lower ends to the topof the box or cas' ing S. This chute is adapted to receive the bottlesto be Washed, filled, and corked in an inverted position, the lower bars14 constil tuting supports which engage the shoulder formed by the bodyof the bottle adjacent to its neck. The support 15, on which thereciprocating bar 11 and the box or casing 8 are mounted, is inclined,-as shown, lying subl stantially at right angles to the bars 14, of whichthe chute 10 is made up. The lowest of the stack of bottles in saidchute l0 is therefore delivered upon the support 15 in an inclinedposition. The ends of the bars 5 and 6, constituting the bottle-guide,are also .inclined from the support 1G, therefore, to

the point at which said rods meet the suproo ' port 15. Adjacent to thebox or casing 8 and nclosing the rods 5 and 6 of the bottle guideframeis a casing 17, 4in which the bottles are washed.' The opposite ends ofsaid casing are formed with openings 19 for the passage of the bottlestherefrom, and the front of said casing is closed by a pane of glassheld in place between the ribs or flanges 20 along the side edges ofsaid casing. Through this pane of glass the washing operation inside thecasing 17 may be readily viewed; but all splashing of Water to theoutside of said casing is prevented. Leading into the lower end of thecasing'l7 is a pipe 2l for hot Water, having a plurality ofupwardlyextending branch pipes 22, having nozzles thereon. The operationof the feeding mechanism, consisting of the cam 13 and reciprocating bar11, causes the bottles from the rack or chute 10 to be successively fedfrom the lower end Vof the box 8 into the bottle guide-frame and alongsaid bottle guide-frame into the casing 17, in which the washingmechanism is placed. The bottles during this operation are in aninverted position, but are'slightly inclined from the vertical at apoint at which they leave the box 8. By reason, however, of

the bend in the rods 5 and 6 from the end of the casing 8 to the support16 said bottles are gradually moved into a vertical position with theirnecks lowermost, so that they can receive the jets of hot water from thenozzles 22 on the pipe 21. In the casing 17 therefore by the meansdescribed the bottles are thoroughly washed and drained. Passing fromthe casing 17 through the opening 19 in the delivery end thereof thebottles are gradually turned around by reason of the twist in theguide-frame in which they move until they reach an upright position, asclearly shown in the drawings.` Just as the fillingpump 23 is reachedthe bottles successively pass upon a plate 24, having a'guard-iiange 25upon its outer side. This plate is adapted to be moved up and down tocause the bottle to approach and recede from the nozzle 26 of the pumpby means of a lever 27, fulcrumed to a bracket 28 on the backboard 1,engaging o1 supporting the plate 24 at one end and carrying a roller -29at its opposite end. The said roller is engaged by a cam 30 0n the shaft3, which cam serves to rock the .lever 27, and thereby elevate the plate24,`

carrying a bottle.

The said cam is provided at one point with a depression 3l, which is ofsufficient length to allow the bottle which .has been filled to remainin its lowermost position until the feeding mechanism for the bottlescan act to force the filled bottle out of line with the nozzle 26 andbring an empty bottle into alinement therewith. The pump 23 is supportedupon a bracket 23a on the backboard 1 and consists of the ordinarycylinder 32, having a piston 33 therein whose stem is connected to apitman 34, adjustably secured to the end of a lever 35, fulcrumed at 36to the backboard 1 and actuated by a cam 37 on the shaft 3. Said cam isprovided with the groove 38, which receives a pin or roller 39 on theend of the lever 35. The specific means of connection between the pitman34 and the lever 35 consists of a slot 40 in said lever, a pin 41 on thepitman 34, movable in said slot, and a lock-nut or other securing meansfor rigidly connecting these two partstogether. The object of thisadjustment is to change the throw of the piston 33 according to thequantity of liquid that is to be inserted into the bottles. The spout ornozzle 26 heretofore referred to leads from the lower end of thecylinder 32 below the piston 33 and is provided with a downwardlyopeningcheck-valve 42. `The pipe 43 leads into the lower end of the cylinder32v below the piston 33 and is provided with an inwardly-openingcheck-valve 44. The pipe 43 communicates with a tank or othersupplychamber for liquid, and it will be obvious that upon the upwardmovement of the piston 33 a charge of liquid will be drawn through thepipe 43 into the lower end of the cylinder 32. the piston 33 will causethe closure of the valve 44, the opening of the valve 42, and thedischarge of the liquid previously drawn through the pipe 43 out throughthe nozzle or discharge-spout 26.

For the specific construction and arrangementof the pump 23 herein shownand above described it is obvious that any other :form of fillingmechanism for the bottles may be substituted and that the saine maybeotherwise disposed than the pump 23.

The bottles being thus washed, drained, inverted in position, and filledwith liquid, now pass successively to the Ycorking mechanism, the sameconsisting of a hopper 45, in which a supply of corks ris placed, havinga contracted discharge-passage 46 in the lowerend thereof, through whichcorks may pass one by one. Mounted in the hopper 45 is a rotary feeder47, having a laterally-extending arm 48 thereon, which moves in closeproximity to the inclined lower walls of said hopper and serves to feedthe corks one by one into the discharge-passage 46. The upper end of thefeeder 47 has secured to it a pulley 49, around which passes a cord orbelt 50, through which power is transmitted from the shaft 3 forrotating said feeder. The lower end of the dischargepassage 46 isnormally closed by a reciprocating cut-od 51, having an opening 52therein, in which a single cork is adapted to fit. It will be observedthat when the cut-off lis in its rearward position, with the opening52registering with the opening through the passage 46, the lower cork ofthe stack in said passage will drop into the opening 52, and during thenext outward movement of the cut-off 51 the cork in the opening 52 willbe carried out to a point directly over the neck of the bott-le to becorked, when the depression of the corking-plunger 53 will force thecork home into the neck of The opposite or downward movement of IOO ros

the bottle. The opening 52 is slightly taper# ing in shape, so that acork upon entering the same cannot pass entirely therethrough unlesspressure be applied. When'the plunger 53, however, is forced down andengages the upper end of the cork in the opening 52, the said cork isslightly .compressed in passing through the contracted part of saidopening, so that its insertion into the neck of the bottle is therebyfacilitated. The plunger 53 is actuated'by a llever 53, fulcrumed on thebackboard 1 and cooperating with a cam 53b on the shaft 3.

One of the essential features of the invention herein disclosed uponwhich it is desired to. lay special stress is the bottle-guideconstructed and arranged to reversev the position of the bottles andreturn them to an upright positionby the simple action of the deliveryand feeding mechanism. I have described the bottle-guide as being madeup of a plurality of bars '5 and 6. It is obvious, however, that I mayemploy a guide-frame in box form having solid sides in lieu of said rodsor bars. I have also described the washing apparatus for the bottlesbeing located along the line of the bottle guide-frame between theIfeed-chute 10 and the filling-pump. may be found desirable, however, towash the bottles while they are in the feed-chute l0, andan advantage isobtained by this construction, in that the bottle guide-frame may bemade shorter, and consequently will hold aA smaller number of bottles.VBy reason of the fact that bottles vary in size, or rather thick? ness,an accumulation of a large number'of bottles in the guide-frame has atendency to interfere with the proper registration thereof with thenozzle 26 of the pump when they reach the latter. The only changenecessary inthe construction described to effect the washing of thebottles while the latter are in the feedfchute 10 is to change thelocationl .of the hot-water pipe 21 and the box or casing 17, in whichsaid pipe discharges.

When the bottles are washed lin the feedchute 10, a modifiedconstruction for-reversing the position ot the bottles maybe employed.The same consists ofa disk, 54, mounted to turn in the grooved guides orholders 55 and having a sprocket-'wheel 56- thereon, with which meshes asprocket-chain 57. Said sprocket-chain also passes around asprocket-wheel'58, having a pinion 59 thereon, which is adapted to'beengaged by asegmental rack 60 on the main drive-shaft 3. The diameter ofthe sprocketwheel 56 is twice that of the sprocket-wheel 58, so thatwhen the latter is turned a complete revolution through the action ofthe rack 60 on the pinion 59 the former will be turned a halfrevolutiou,or through an arc of one hundred and eighty degrees. The disk 54.- isprovided with an opening .61, constituting a bottle holder or receiver,which opening is adapted to receive the reciprocating bar 11, formingpart ofthe feeding mechanism. The bottles .the neck of the bottle.

from the chute 10 are delivered upon the inclined support l5 and throughthe actionof the reciprocating bar 11 are successively pushed into thereceiver 61. Then upon the engagement ot the rack 60 with the pinion 59the sprocket-wheels 5S and 56 are turned, and the latter being connectedwith the disk 54 said disk is also turned, carrying with it the bottlein the receiver 61 and reversing the position of the latter.l The nextoperation of the reciprocating bar 11 forces a new bottle in invertedposition into the receiver 6l, and the bottle which has previously beenreturned to its upright position is fed forward toward the filling andcorking devices.

It will be readily understood that by reason of variations in thethickness of the hotties-fed through the bottle guide-frame described insome instances the bottle tov be filled will be deliveredupon the plate24C out of line with the spout or nozzle 26 of the pump 23 and that thelled bottle will be delivered to a point out'of line with the cork#ing-plunger 53. In order to prevent this, I have provided a combinedholde'r and adjuster for insuring the proper locationof the` bottlesbeneath the two partsv referred to when the illing and corking devicesare operated. The same consists of a rod or bar 62, extending through anopeningin the backboard 1 and having a concavev bottle-holder (S3-uponone Vend thereof.v The opposite end extends through au opening inthe'frame of the device and has secured thereto a spring 64connected tothe frame of the apparatus, the said spring tending to normally urge therod 62 out toward the bottle guide-frame. 0n the under side ofthe rod 62is an arm 65, having an antifriction-roller 66 thereon, which is engagedby a cam 67 on the shaft 3. Said cam 67 during each revolution of theshaft 3 acts upon the roller 66 and moves the rod 62 against the actionchf-.its spring 64; away from the bottle guide-frame. yAt the forwardend of therod 62, adjacent to the point of connection of the`bottle-holder 63 therewith, is a branch arm 68, which extends parallelto the direction vof movement of the bottles in the guide-frame and hasconnectedthereto a crescent-shaped bottle-'adjuster 69. The saidadjuster 69 Vis located beneath the spout 26 of thepump 23 and isadapted to embrace the bottle to be lled and held and guide the sameduring its upward movement toward the spout 26 to insure the properentrance of said spout into y The holder 63 is located beyond theadjuster 69 directly beneath the corkingplunger 53. Said holder 63serves to retain the bottle to be corked in proper position to receivethe plunger 53 as it descends. The cam 67 is so disposed upon the shaft3 that as soon as the filling and corking operations; have/beencompleted it will act upon the roller 66 on the arm 65 to throwrearwardly the rod 62 and free the adjuster 69 and the holder 63 fromthe bottles with which ICO they were in engagement and' permit the feedying mechanism toI deliver additional bottles thereto. .v

While I have shown and described specific forms of bottle-Washingmechanism, bottleiilling mechanism, and bottle-corking mechanism, I makeno specific claims thereto herein. For these mechanisms any othersuitable mechanisms of the same kind may loe substituted withoutdeparting from the nature or spirit of my invention.

Itwill be readily understood that unless means be provided forpreventing it'the bottles from the chute l0 would strike with sufficientforce to break them against the bottom wall of the box or casing 8 assoon as the feeding-bar 1l is retracted so as to pass from beneath thestack of bottles in the said chute. The means provided by me forovercoming this difculty consists of a. two-arm plunger 70, which titswithin and is movable through slots 7l in the bar ll, the said plungerbeing reciprocated by means of a cam 72 on the main drive-shaft 3. Thiscam acts upon the lower end of the plunger or a roller carried thereby.The cam 72 has been shown as a cam-race and is so shaped and disposedthat the plunger is maintained in its raised position until after thebar ll is retracted. Said plunger then recedes slowly, so as to allowthe bottles in the chute 10 to gradually move along said chute until thebottom bottle comes in contact with the bottom wall of the boX or casing8. Said plunger remains in its lowermost position until the bar 1l hasbeen again forced forwardly, when it is again raised, so as to supportthe stack of bottles in the chute l0 While the'bar ll is beingwithdrawn.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. In an organized apparatus for washing and filling bottles, thecombination with means for washing the bottles in inverted position,means for feeding the bottles to the filling mechanism, and means forautomatically turning the bottles to their upright positions after beingWashed.

2. In an organized apparatus for Washing and filling bottles, thecombination with means for washing the bottles in inverted position,filling mechanism therefor, means for automatically turning the bottlesto their upright positions after being Washed, means for feeding thebottles from the washing mechanism to the filling mechanism, and commonoperating means for the filling mechanism and the feeding means.

3. In an organized apparatus for washing, filling and corking bottles,the combination with mechanism for washing the bottles in invertedposition, filling mechanism and corking mechanism, of means for feedingthe bottles from the washing mechanism to the lilling mechanism andthence to the corking mechanism, means for automatically turning thebottles to their upright positions after being washed, and commonoperating means for the corkingand filling mechanisms and for thefeeding means.

4. In an organized apparatus for washing and filling bottles, thecombination, with mechanism for washing the bottles in invertedposition, and filling mechanism, of a guideframe for the bottlesbetweenthe'washing and filling mechanisms, and feeding mechanism for thebottles in said frame, the said frame being constructed and arranged toturn the bottles from inverted to upright position while passingtherethrough between the washing mechanism and the filling mechanism.

5. Inan organized apparatus for washing and iilling bottles, thecombination with mechanism for washing the bottles in inverted positionand filling mechanism, of a guideframe for the bottles between theWashing and filling mechanisms, and feeding mechanism for the bottles insaid frame, the said guide-frame having engaging portions for thebottles thereon, which engaging portions are twisted so as to bereversed in position from the washing mechanism to the fillingmechanism, for turning the bottles from inverted to upright positionbetween the washing and filling mechanisms.

6. In'an organized apparatus for washing and filling bottles, thecombination with mechanism for washing the bottles in inverted position,and filling mechanisms, of a guideframe between the washing and fillingmechanisms, and vmeans for feeding the bottles along said frame, saidguideframe being made up of longitudinally-extending rods arranged inpairs, the members of each pair being parallel to each other and adaptedto engage dilferent portions of the bottles and the members of each pairbeing twisted with respect to the members of the other pairfor turningthe bottles from inverted to upright position as they are fedtherethrough.

7. In an apparatus for washing and filling bottles, the combination withwashing mechanism, filling mechanism to which the bottles are deliveredfrom the Washing mechanism and a box or casing at the feed end of themachine, of a bottle guide-frame connecting said casing with saidwashing mechanism, an inclined chute communicating with said casing andvfeeding mechanism for feeding the bottles one by one from said casinginto said guide-frame as they are delivered into said casing from saidchute.

8. In an apparatus for Washing and filling bottles, the combination withmechanism for washing bottles in inverted position, filling mechanism towhich the bottles are delivered from the washing mechanism and a boX orcasing at the feed end of the machine having an inclined bottom wall, ofa twisted bottle guide-frame connecting said casing with said washingmechanism, an inclined chute communicating with said casing andextending at right angles t0 the inclined bottom Wall thereof, and areciprocating bar for feeding the bottles one by one from said casinginto IIO IIE

said bottle guide-frame as they are delivered into said casing from saidchute.

9. In an apparatus. for washing and filling bottles, the combinationwith Washing mechanism, filling mechanism to which the bottles aredelivered from said washing mechanism and a casing-attbe `feed end ofthe machine, of a bottle guide-frame connecting said casing with saidWashing mechanism, an inclined chute communicating with said casing, alreci procating feeding-bar movable through said casing for feeding thebottles one by one from said casing into said bottle guide-frame as theyare delivered into said casing from 'said chute, a rotary shaft having acam thereon and connections between said cam and said bar for operatingit.

l0.'y In an organized apparatus for Washing and filling bottles, thecombination with Washing mechanism, filling mechanism, a bottle guide-frame extending from the Washing mechanism to the iilling mechanism andfeed mechanism for the bottles in said frame, of a vertically-movablesupport for the bottles located beneath the illing mechanism andindependent of said frame, and means for automatically elevating saidsupport toward the nozzle of the iilling mechanism as the l bottles aresuccessively delivered thereon.

1l. In an organized apparatus for Washing and iilling bottles, thecombination With Washing mechanism, filling mechanism, a bottleguide-frame extending from the Washing mechanism to the fillingmechanism and feed mechanism for the bottles in said frame, of avertically-movable support for the bottles located beneath the iillingmechanism and independent of said frame, a drive-shaftfor' operatingsaid feeding and filling mechanisms, and connections between saiddriveshaft and said support for automatically elevating the same towardthe nozzle of the iilling mechanism as the bottles are successivelydelivered thereon. y

ll2. In an organized apparatus for Washing and filling bottles, thecombination with Washing mechanism, lling mechanism, a bottle' guideframe extending from the Washing mechanism to the iilling mechanism, andfeed mechanism for the bottles in said frame, of a vertically-movablesupport for the bottles located beneath the filling mechanism andfinldependent of said frame, a rotary drive-shaft for actuating thefilling and feeding mechanismsa cam on said shaft and a lever connectedwith said support and cooperating on said cam, whereby saidl support isautomatically elevated toward the nozzle of the filling mechanism as thebottles are successively delivered thereon.

' 13. In an apparatus for filling and corking bottles, the combinationwith filling mechanism,corking mechanism, abottle guide-frame, andmeansfor feeding the bottles along said frame to the iiliing and corkingmechanisms, of a bottle-adjuster having bottle-engaging portions thereonlocated respectively opposite the corking and i'lling mechanisms, thesaid engaging portions designed to hold .the bottles as they are fed tothe filling and corking. mechanisms 'in line with the discharge nesses.Y l

- FRED L. SEELY.V

Witnesses: Y Y

B H. OBERDonn,

L. 0. SANGER.

